2 Kings 17:36
in 2 Kings 17Instead, worship the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. You are to bow down to Him and offer sacrifices to Him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
but Jehovah, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm, him shall ye fear, and unto him shall ye bow yourselves, and to him shall ye sacrifice:
KJV
But the Lord, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice.
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This verse in 2 Kings 17
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
Do not worship other gods or bow down to them
on 2 Kings 17:35-39
Verses 35 to 39 recite the Sinai covenant, the commandments of Exodus 20:2 to 5, in the LORD's own words. Its first command is “Do not worship other gods or bow down to them”. Five verses circle one command broken for generations, and the chapter states what was always required.
This site's exposition
an outstretched arm
The outstretched arm is exodus language from Exodus 6:6 and Deuteronomy 5:15, where rescue from Egypt grounds the claim to Israel's worship. John Gill read the clause as a debt of gratitude. Worship here follows deliverance.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Israel Subdued by Assyria. 1 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years. 2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the L ORD , but not as the kings of Israel that were before him.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:90%@v1-3
But the Lord, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt, with a great power, and a stretched out arm,.... Which is observed, to show the obligations they lay under, in point of gratitude, to serve the Lord: him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice: and him only, and not other gods; none but he being the object of religious fear and divine worship, and to whom sacrifices should be offered.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
But the Lord - Jehovah, the supreme, self-existent, and eternal Being; author of all being and life. This was to be the sole object of their adoration. Who brought you up - This was a strong reason why they should adore Him only: he had saved them from the hands of their enemies, and he did it in such a way as to show his power to be irresistible; in such a Being they might safely confide. Him shall ye fear - Here is the manner in which he is to be worshipped.
The words behind it
19 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֣י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| אִֽם־ | ʾim- | except | H518 → | 1069 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| יְהוָ֗ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֲשֶׁר֩ | ʾasher | who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| הֶעֱלָ֨ה | heelah | he brought up | H5927 → | 890 times |
| אֶתְכֶ֜ם | ʾetkhem | <obj.> you | H853 → | 10935 times |
| מֵאֶ֧רֶץ | meeretz | from [the] land of | H776 → | 2504 times |
| מִצְרַ֛יִם | mitzrayim | Egypt | H4714 → | 641 times |
| בְּכֹ֧חַ | bekhoach | with power | H3581 → | |
| גָּד֛וֹל | gadol | great | H1419 → | 526 times |
| וּבִזְר֥וֹעַ | uvizroa' | and by an arm | H2220 → | |
| נְטוּיָ֖ה | netuyah | outstretched | H5186 → | 214 times |
| אֹת֣וֹ | ʾoto | <obj.> him | H853 → | 10935 times |
| תִירָ֑אוּ | tirau | you will fear | H3372 → | 315 times |
| וְל֥וֹ | velo | and to him | ||
| תִֽשְׁתַּחֲו֖וּ | tishtachavu | you will bow down | H7812 → | 172 times |
| וְל֥וֹ | velo | and to him | ||
| תִזְבָּֽחוּ׃ | tizbachu | you will sacrifice | H2076 → | 134 times |
כִּ֣יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
אִֽם־except
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
יְהוָ֗הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֲשֶׁר֩who
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
הֶעֱלָ֨הhe brought up
heelahH5927 →890 times
אֶתְכֶ֜ם<obj.> you
ʾetkhemH853 →10935 times
מֵאֶ֧רֶץfrom [the] land of
meeretzH776 →2504 times
מִצְרַ֛יִםEgypt
mitzrayimH4714 →641 times
בְּכֹ֧חַwith power
bekhoachH3581 →
גָּד֛וֹלgreat
gadolH1419 →526 times
וּבִזְר֥וֹעַand by an arm
uvizroa'H2220 →
נְטוּיָ֖הoutstretched
netuyahH5186 →214 times
אֹת֣וֹ<obj.> him
ʾotoH853 →10935 times
תִירָ֑אוּyou will fear
tirauH3372 →315 times
וְל֥וֹand to him
velo
תִֽשְׁתַּחֲו֖וּyou will bow down
tishtachavuH7812 →172 times
וְל֥וֹand to him
velo
תִזְבָּֽחוּ׃you will sacrifice
tizbachuH2076 →134 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Exodus 6:6Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched…
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 26:8
Then the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror, signs, and wonders.
- Deuteronomy 26:8
Through
Deuteronomy 6:13Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name.
it leads to
- Luke 4:8
But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
- Deuteronomy 10:20
You are to fear the LORD your God and serve Him. Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name.
- Matthew 4:10
“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
- Deuteronomy 13:4
You are to follow the LORD your God and fear Him. Keep His commandments and listen to His voice; serve Him and hold fast to Him.
- Luke 4:8
Through
Leviticus 19:32You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 5:1
Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers,
- Proverbs 16:31
Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
- Proverbs 20:29
The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
- 1 Timothy 5:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies11
About 2 Kings
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.